Man City and Arsenal handed fresh fixture dates in title run-in amid Premier League statement

Manchester City and Arsenal have both seen games moved as a result of the Champions League draw

Manchester City and Arsenal may have been kept in separate halves of the Champions League draw, but the frantic March fixture list looks set to throw up a seismic Saturday night showdown involving both clubs.

Pep Guardiola's side are battling the Gunners for the Premier League title and the two teams will also meet in the Carabao Cup final next month. The pair could yet meet in the Champions League final, while both remain in the FA Cup ahead of a potential meeting in the latter stages of that competition.

It means the next few weeks and months will be crucial for both clubs, with both still hunting an unprecedented quadruple. And amid all the key dates, another looks to be looming with a fixture quirk plunging both sides into Saturday night action on March 14.

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City face West Ham that day in the capital with the game selected for TNT Sports coverage and handed a 12.30pm kick off slot. But that was under the proviso that the Blues were not away from home in the Champions League on the Wednesday before. UEFA have now confirmed the dates for the last-16 ties and City will visit Real Madrid on Wednesday, March 11, meaning that trip to West Ham will move to 8pm on the Saturday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, were due to host Everton on Sunday, March 15 (2pm). But that game was also subject to being moved to accommodate Champions League fixtures and has been given a new date because the Gunners will face Bayer Leverkusen in Europe on Tuesday, March 17, meaning they cannot play on the Sunday. The Emirates Stadium fixture has moved to Saturday, March 15, with a 5.30pm start.

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That means Arsenal and City are in action on the same day in the same city in what could prove a pivotal evening in the title race given the fixtures are sandwiched between Champions League ties and come a week before the Carabao Cup final.

The Premier League released a statement earlier this week around those two fixtures. It read: "The Premier League confirmed the above fixtures on 21 January (Fixture Amendment 14) and advised UEFA that clubs scheduled to play on Sunday 15 March would not be available to play Champions League fixtures on Tuesday 17 March.

"Unfortunately, UEFA has not been able to provide any guarantees on its scheduling ahead of the draw. As a result, the Premier League now faces the possibility of re-scheduling its fixtures at even shorter notice, at the inconvenience of supporters and clubs."

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